Ascalaphidae

plural noun

As·​ca·​laph·​i·​dae

ˌaskəˈlafəˌdē

: a family of rather large nocturnal insects (order Neuroptera) superficially resembling dragonflies but having long club-tipped antennae

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Ascalaphus, type genus (from Greek askalaphos, a kind of owl) + -idae

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!